Kathmandu, March 12 - Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Li Zaoxing will arrive here on an official visit to Nepal in the first week of April, media reports said.
The Chinese minister will be the first representative of a foreign government to visit the country officially since Nepal's King Gyanendra's royal coup of Feb 1.
Li will meet Nepalese officials and discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations, the Kathmandu Post reported Saturday.
While the royal coup was condemned by most of the international community, China, along with Pakistan and Russia, have called it an internal matter of Nepal.
The Chinese state media has also stepped up its coverage of Nepal, highlighting what it considers the positive aspects of the new regime.
China says it is "vigorously" pursuing its plan to develop its western regions, which would have a "conducive impact" on Nepal.
This year, China and Nepal celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Nepalese Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey heads an official committee set up for a celebration programme.
In January, the Nepalese government closed down the office of the representative of the Dalai Lama in Kathmandu in what is widely regarded as due to pressure from Beijing.
Beijing says Tibet is an integral part of China and there are no Tibetan refugees, only illegal immigrants who should be punished according to the law of the land.
Nepal, which has earlier handed over groups of Tibetans fleeing their homeland to the Chinese authorities, doesn't recognise Tibet as an independent country.
During Buddhist conferences, Kathmandu refrains from issuing invitations to the Dalai Lama.
Last year, Nepal's heir to the throne Prince Paras visited China along with his wife, Princess Himani.
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